Snap-fit closure system

ABSTRACT

A container for pourable washing and cleaning agents, comprising: a threadless circular container opening onto whose outwardly directed distal end is shaped a cylindrical holding ring whose outside diameter is larger than the outside diameter of the container opening, so that the container opening is set back inward with respect to the holding ring toward the center axis of the container opening; a substantially cylindrical pouring aid that comprises at least at one distal end a catch spring element, the catch spring element and the holding ring being configured in such a way that by snapping the pouring aid onto the holding ring, a liquid-tight connection that is nonreleasable for a user is constituted, and that comprises at its other distal end means for releasable connection of the pouring aid to a closure cap.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a snap-fit closure system for a container, and more particularly relates to a bottle, blown from a preform, for pourable washing and cleaning agents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Plastic bottles, in particular, blown from a blank or preform have become established in the field of storing commercially usual quantities of washing and cleaning agents. These bottles usually possess an external thread onto which a dispensing and closure cap is screwed. The production of such preforms having a thread is comparatively complex because of the geometry of the thread flanks and thread slope, and because of production tolerances. The same applies to the corresponding closure caps.

Problems moreover regularly occur when filling such bottles, since the position of the closures relative to the bottles must be determined exactly in order to allow the closure to be screwed on. The time expenditure for such screwing-on processes is moreover comparatively large, and represents a limiting factor on the filling capacity of an automatic filling line. The torques with which a closure cap is screwed on must also be determined and monitored as exactly as possible, since too little screwing-in torque can cause unintentional loosening of the screw closure, and too high a screwing-on torque can mean that reopening of the closure by a user is impossible or difficult, or the closure can in fact be destroyed by being screwed on with an excessive tightening torque.

Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A container (1), in particular a bottle blown from a preform, for pourable washing and cleaning agents, comprising: a threadless circular container opening (2) onto whose outwardly directed distal end is shaped a cylindrical holding ring (3) whose outside diameter (Dh) is larger than the outside diameter (Db) of the container opening (2), so that the container opening (2) is set back inward with respect to the holding ring (3) toward the center axis of the container opening (2) or of the holding ring (3); a substantially cylindrical pouring aid (4) that comprises at least at one distal end a catch spring element (5), the catch spring element (5) and the holding ring (3) being configured in such a way that by snapping the pouring aid (4) onto the holding ring (3), a liquid-tight connection that is nonreleasable for a user is constituted, and that comprises at its other distal end means (6) for releasable connection of the pouring aid (4) to a closure cap (7).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and

FIG. 1 is a cross-section through a snapped-on closure system in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a snap-on closure system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description of the invention.

The container, in particular a bottle blown from a preform, for pourable washing and cleaning agents, encompasses

-   -   a threadless circular container opening onto whose outwardly         directed distal end is shaped a cylindrical holding ring whose         outside diameter Dh is larger than the outside diameter Db of         the container opening, so that the container opening is set back         inward with respect to the holding ring toward the center axis         of the container opening or of the holding ring,     -   a substantially cylindrical pouring aid         -   that comprises at least at one distal end a catch spring             element, the catch spring element and the holding ring being             configured in such a way that by snapping the pouring aid             onto the holding ring, a liquid-tight connection that is             nonreleasable for a user is constituted, and         -   that comprises at its other distal end means for releasable             connection of the pouring aid to a closure cap.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the catch spring element comprises a flank having an axial slope angle β of the flank between 2° and 85°, preferably between 4 and 70°, particularly preferably between 5° and 60°. By way of the flank and its slope, positioning inaccuracies in the context of snapping the pouring aid onto the holding ring can be partly compensated for. In addition, the flank brings about the resilient deflection and resilient snapping in of the catch spring element behind the holding ring when snapped on.

In order to achieve maximally uniform and sufficient holding force for the pouring aid on the holding ring, it is advantageous to embody the catch spring element of the pouring aid as a resilient peripheral collar that completely surrounds the holding ring over its entire periphery. It is further preferred for this purpose to embody the pouring aid from a plastic material.

In order to connect the pouring aid to the holding ring in as liquid-tight a fashion as possible, according to a refinement of the invention a sealing ring, which in the state snapped onto the holding ring abuts against the inwardly directed peripheral wall of the holding ring, can be shaped onto the pouring aid. The sealing ring furthermore serves for exactly defined positioning and immobilization of the pouring aid on the holding ring of the container.

A closure cap can be provided, for example, for closure of the container equipped with the snapped-on dispensing aid, where a means for releasable connection of the pouring aid to the closure cap is embodied as an internal thread in the pouring aid and as a corresponding external thread in the closure cap, so that the closure cap can be screwed, in particular in liquid-tight fashion, into the pouring aid.

Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the means for releasable connection of the pouring aid to a closure cap to be embodied as a snap-on connection releasable by a user.

The container can be manufactured according to the following method comprising the following steps:

a) furnishing a preform having a threadless circular container opening onto whose outwardly directed distal end is shaped a cylindrical holding ring whose outside diameter Dh is larger than the outside diameter Db of the container opening, so that the container opening is set back inward with respect to the holding ring toward the center axis of the container opening or of the holding ring, b) inflating the preform into a container having a threadless circular container opening onto whose outwardly directed distal end is shaped a cylindrical holding ring whose outside diameter Dh is larger than the outside diameter Db of the container opening, so that the container opening is set back inward with respect to the holding ring toward the center axis of the container opening or of the holding ring, snapping a substantially cylindrical pouring aid onto the holding ring of the container, where the pouring aid comprises a catch spring element at least at one distal end, where the catch spring element and the holding ring are configured in such a way that by snapping the pouring aid onto the holding ring, a liquid-tight connection that is nonreleasable for a user is constituted, and that comprises at its other distal end means for releasable connection of the pouring aid to a closure cap.

The invention will be explained in further detail with reference to the examples and illustrations that follow. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross section through the snapped-on closure system in the closed position. Container 1 comprises a cylindrical container opening 2 located at the top in the direction of gravity. Shaped onto its distal end is a likewise cylindrical holding ring 3 that extends upward in the direction of gravity parallel to the center axis of container opening 2. The outside diameter Dh of holding ring 3 is larger than the outside diameter Db of container opening 2. The result is to form a shoulder 9 on the outwardly directed enveloping surface of container opening 2. Shoulder 9 extends outward at a right angle out of the enveloping surface of container opening 2. The depth of the shoulder is defined by the difference between the outside diameter Dh of holding ring 3 and the outside diameter Db of container opening 2.

In the closed position depicted in FIG. 1, pouring aid 4 is in the closed state snapped onto holding ring 3 of container opening 2. Pouring aid 4 comprises a catch spring element 5 that, in the example shown, is embodied as a circumferential resilient collar 5 b at whose distal end is arranged a flank 5 a. Flank 5 a has an axial slope angle β. In the snapped-on state, flank 5 a engages behind shoulder 9 so that a connection nonreleasable by a user is formed between container opening 2 and pouring aid 4. Flank 5 a furthermore serves, during the snapping-on process, to resiliently spread the collar of holding ring 3 outward until the collar then, by means of flank 5 a, latches into its closed position behind shoulder 9.

It is furthermore evident from FIG. 1 that pouring aid 4 is connected in liquid-tight fashion to holding ring 3 by means of a sealing ring 8 that engages behind the distal end of the holding ring in the direction of the interior of the container. Sealing ring 8 also comprises a flank 8 a, rising outward, that in particular facilitates positioning of the pouring aid on holding ring 3. The external flank edge 8 a abuts sealingly against the inner enveloping surface of holding ring 3.

An internal thread 6 is shaped onto the distal end, directed upward in the direction of gravity, of the cylindrical pouring aid 4. Closure cap 7 is screwed releasably into this internal thread by means of a corresponding external thread.

FIG. 2 depicts the snap-on closure system known from FIG. 1 in an exploded view, on the basis of which the method for manufacturing the container according to the present invention can effectively be explained.

Firstly, a preform is made available, having a threadless circular container opening 2 onto whose outwardly directed distal end is shaped a cylindrical holding ring 3 whose outside diameter Dh is larger than the outside diameter Db of container opening 2, so that container opening 2 is set back inward with respect to holding ring 3 toward the center axis of container opening 2 or of the holding ring 3. The preform is then heated, and inflated into a container having a threadless circular container opening 2.

Lastly, the cylindrical pouring aid 4 is snapped onto holding ring 3 of container 1, where pouring aid 4 comprises a catch spring element 5 at least at one distal end, where catch spring element 5 and holding ring 3 are configured in such a way that by snapping pouring aid 4 onto holding ring 3, a liquid-tight connection that is nonreleasable for a user is constituted, and it comprises at its other distal end means 6 for releasable connection of pouring aid 4 to a closure cap 7.

Pouring aid 4 can already possess a releasably arranged closure cap 7 when snapped on. Alternatively, closure cap 7 can also be connected to pouring aid 4 in a further process step, after the pouring aid is snapped onto holding ring 3.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container (1) for pourable washing and cleaning agents, comprising a threadless circular container opening (2) onto whose outwardly directed distal end is shaped a cylindrical holding ring (3) whose outside diameter (Dh) is larger than the outside diameter (Db) of the container opening (2), so that the container opening (2) is set back inward with respect to the holding ring (3) toward the center axis of the container opening (2); a substantially cylindrical pouring aid (4) that comprises at least at one distal end a catch spring element (5), the catch spring element (5) and the holding ring (3) being configured in such a way that by snapping the pouring aid (4) onto the holding ring (3), a liquid-tight connection that is nonreleasable for a user is constituted; and that comprises at its other distal end means (6) for releasable connection of the pouring aid (4) to a closure cap (7).
 2. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the catch spring element (5) comprises a flank (5 a) having an axial slope angle β of flank (5 a) between 2° and 85°.
 3. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the catch spring element (5) of the pouring aid (4) is embodied as a resilient peripheral collar (5 b).
 4. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that a sealing ring (8), which in the state snapped onto the holding ring (3) abuts against the inwardly directed peripheral wall of the holding ring (3), is shaped onto the pouring aid (4).
 5. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (6) for releasable connection of the pouring aid (4) to a closure cap (7) is embodied as an internal thread shaped into the pouring aid (4) and as a corresponding external thread in the closure cap (7), so that the closure cap (7) can be screwed into the pouring aid (4).
 6. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (6) for releasable connection of the pouring aid (4) to a closure cap (7) is embodied as a snap-on connection releasable by a user.
 7. A method for manufacturing a container according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: a) furnishing a preform having a threadless circular container opening (2) onto whose outwardly directed distal end is shaped a cylindrical holding ring (3) whose outside diameter (Dh) is larger than the outside diameter (Db) of the container opening (2), so that the container opening (2) is set back inward with respect to the holding ring (3) toward the center axis of the container opening (2), b) inflating the preform into a container having a threadless circular container opening (2) onto whose outwardly directed distal end is shaped a cylindrical holding ring (3) whose outside diameter (Dh) is larger than the outside diameter (Db) of the container opening (2), so that the container opening (2) is set back inward with respect to the holding ring (3) toward the center axis of the container opening (2), c) snapping a substantially cylindrical pouring aid (4) onto the holding ring (3) of the container (1), where the pouring aid (4) comprises a catch spring element (5) at least at one distal end, where the catch spring element (5) and the holding ring (3) are configured in such a way that by snapping the pouring aid (4) onto the holding ring (3), a liquid-tight connection that is nonreleasable for a user is constituted, and that comprises at its other distal end means (6) for releasable connection of the pouring aid (4) to a closure cap (7).
 8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the closure cap (7) is already connected to the pouring aid (4) in method step c).
 9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the closure cap (7) is connected to the pouring aid (4) in a method step d) following the method step. 